Children of Memory

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Children of Memory shifts its focus from biological uplift to themes of simulation and consciousness. How did this thematic shift feel to you, especially if you’ve read Children of Time or Children of Ruin?

2. What was your reaction to the reveal that the Landfall colony never truly existed? Did you have any suspicions as you were reading, and how did learning the truth change your perspective on the story?

3. The novel ends with Liff rescued and ready to explore the galaxy. Did you feel the book concluded on a hopeful or tragic note, considering the centuries of simulated suffering that led to this moment?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Miranda’s identity is a copy of a copy, leading her to feel like a “monster.” How does the novel’s exploration of her identity make you think about the relationship between memory?

2. The Corvids learn about the world around them by breaking apart and reconstructing everything. How do you feel about this way of learning about the world? Can you think of other ways in which you would prefer to learn how things work?

3. Liff tries to understand her world by relying on folk stories from her favorite childhood book. Did you ever use your own favorite books, films, or other media to understand your environment?

4. Throughout the story, characters often question the nature of consciousness. Think about a time you dwelled on your own sentience. How did you conceive of your sense of self and how it differed from others?

5. Kern is both sympathetic to Miranda and trying to drag her out of the simulation. Can you think of a time when you have felt sympathy for someone while actively trying to save them from a situation? 

6. On Imir, the human version of Paul is a mute painter. What are some of the ways you’ve seen people, including yourself, try to communicate their emotions with others through nontraditional means?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel portrays the human impact of programmed evolution. How do the stories of uplifted Corvids (and Portiids and Octopuses) affect your understanding of evolutionary biology and the ethics of gene editing?

2. A remnant of Dr. Kern exists inside an artificial intelligence. How does this depiction of Kern tally with your modern understanding of artificial intelligence? Do you think that Kern’s fate will be possible in the near or far future? 

3. The story concludes with Liff joining the mission to explore the galaxy. In what ways does her experience reflect or differ from the stories of the other characters and how does this make you feel about the nature of space exploration?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What is the significance of the recurring motif stormy weather? How does this depiction of ominous weather set the emotional tone for life on Imir?

2. Think about the forest that borders the town of Landfall. How does this forest represent the colonists’ fears and anxieties? How does Miranda’s perception of the forest contrast with their perspective?

3. The nonlinear narrative jumps between events in the simulations and the crew’s discovery of the planet of Imir. How does this nonlinear narrative affect the depiction of the characters and their interactions?

4. Compare the different species aboard the Skipper. In what ways does the narrative change in style and language when presenting the world from the perspective of, for example, Miranda or the Corvids?

5. Liff’s book of folk stories plays a key role in how she understands the world. How does the novel portray her changing understanding between fiction and reality? 

6. The various species depicted in Children of Memory conceive of their own consciousness in very different ways. How does the novel use interiority and self-reflection to convey this idea of the self?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are making a film based on Children of Time. How would you portray the uncanniness and the strangeness of Liff’s unreliable reality? How would you show audiences that she is reliving a simulated life many times over? 

2. Imagine that you are writing the next entry in the Children of Time series. How do you imagine the alliances and tensions between the crew members will be affected by the recruitment of Liff? What do you believe will happen on the next planet they encounter?

3. The Skipper is a central presence in the book. If you were designing the ship to be shown in an artwork or a film, how would you ensure that the crew’s living space reflects the different needs of very different entities? How would the human characters share a space with Corvids, Portiids, octopuses, and an artificial intelligence?